Waverly's Short Story Rules Of The Game

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Imagine being one of the best. Standing on a podium holding trophy, yet coming home to parents who are disappointed because you were in 3rd place on that podium. This is how Waverley feels in the shorts story “Rules of the Game”. Waverly lives with her mom, dad, and two older brothers in an apartment in San Francisco Chinatown. Waverly loves where she lives, and she loves playing in the alleyways with her friends, and brothers. One day at Christmas party, at the church the family went, Waverly’s older brother got a chess set. This chess set sprouted a new hobby for Waverly, and soon she was playing chess everyday. Waverly became a chess star with a mom, Ms. Jong, who wants nothing less than her daughter to be number one, but they get in a fight …show more content…

Jong over support Waverly and doesn’t realize how much pressure she is applying to Waverly she also doesn't let or encourage her to relax or try new things like children should. In the beginning of the story Waverly played, “Like most of the other Chinese children who played in the back alleys of restaurants and curio shops” (3). Later in the story she mentions how she always came straight home from school and “(she) no longer played in the alley of Waverly Place.” (34). She used to play with her brothers or other children in the alleys, but once she started playing chess the playing stopped. This could be because she is so dedicated to the game and that is what she wants to do, yet Ms. Jong should encouraged Waverly at some point to go play and take a break, for that would loosen up the pressure building making Waverly happier. Also when Waverly wins her first trophy Ms. Jong does the opposite of what a parent would usually do “As she wiped each piece with a soft cloth she said, ‘Next time win more, lose less.’”. Ms. Jong tells Waverly to win more pieces and lose less. This could be viewed as good parenting, pushing children to their best possible self, or as being to harsh both affect Waverly’s development. Ms. Jong doesn't go out of her way to make sure Waverly is still happy, and maybe it is because she doesn't know how, or doesnt think that is how you raise a child. Ms. Jong ways of parenting are another way of how she is significant in Waverly’s